WASHINGTON/ PNN/

 Spokesperson for the US State Department, Ned Price expressed hope that the murderers of the Palestinian teenage girl, who was killed during an Israeli military assault on Jenin, are held accountable.

“We understand the IDF is undertaking an investigation into what happened. We hope to see accountability in this case,” he said.

He extended his profound condolences to the family of Jana Zakarneh, the young Palestinian teenage girl who was killed late Sunday night during an Israeli military assault in Jenin, in the north of the West Bank.

He also expressed alarm over the increase in Palestinian and Israeli deaths and injuries, including injuries to numerous children and now the death of a young Palestinian teenager, which he described as a ‘tragic incident’.

The spokesperson further reiterated the need for all parties to take steps to de-escalate the situation. “It’s vital that the parties themselves take urgent action to prevent even greater loss of life.”

In the meantime, the ministry of foreign affairs and expatriates welcomed the US position calling on Israel to uphold its responsibilities and bring the killers of the teenage girl to justice.

The ministry urged the US administration to not merely settle for the Israeli government’s apology and confession for her killing, calling for the exertion of real pressure on the occupation’s state to ensure that murderers are held accountable.